Sven-Goran Eriksson last night insisted he had no reason to be embarrassed about talks with Chelsea over his future as he pledged to stay with England until 2008.

Eriksson confirmed his secret meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, although in a masterclass of semantics, he insisted he had merely discussed "possibilities" and not a job offer.

The England coach also revealed he had been approached by at least two other clubs, thought to be Real Madrid and Inter Milan, about taking over after the Euro 2004 finals.

However, while Eriksson (pictured with partner Nancy Dell'Ollio at yesterday's Arsenal-Manchester United game) would have preferred to leave any final decision over his future until this summer, he was forced to reveal his hand by the publication of photos of his meeting with Kenyon.

And, when push came to shove, the Swede resolved to stay with England, signing a two-year contract extension in a bid to end the speculation over his future.

Declaring there is "no chance at all" of him joining Chelsea or any other club after Euro 2004, he asked: "If I wanted to leave why should I sign a new contract?"

In the end, having considered all the options open to him, Eriksson resolved to stay put, with the lure of the 2006 World Cup having proved greater than Roman Abramovich's millions.

"I am staying on because I wanted the job and I'm proud of it, although I would not deny that what came out made me take the decision sooner than maybe I would otherwise have done," he admitted.

That news is, above all, a major boost to the England squad ahead of the Euro 2004 finals, with the players united in their support of their coach.

What Eriksson was pointedly not prepared to concede, however, was that he had any reason to feel embarrassed about his conduct over the past few months.

Agent Pini Zahavi had made it clear the Swede's meeting with Kenyon was not his only contact with Chelsea as the England coach quite obviously played the field to cover his options. Eriksson insisted: "It's always difficult to understand that whoever has this job should be a saint, should not earn a lot of money, should not have a private life and should not listen to other possibilities in life.

"The FA knew since a month ago that there were some small discussions with at least two or three other clubs. I never hid that from them.

"I have a new contract until 2008 and here I am. I haven't let anyone down by listening to anyone else."

Eriksson categorically denied having lined up Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren as his Chelsea No 2, while stating he was "not close at all" to taking over at Stamford Bridge.

Eriksson, whose right-hand man Tord Grip has also signed on until 2008, can now at least start to concentrate on the Euro 2004 finals, starting with Wednesday's friendly in Sweden.

Eriksson has handed Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe the chance to make a late bid as he was one of a host of newcomers to a severely-depleted England squad.

With Arsenal's Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell, Manchester United's Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, as well as Wayne Bridge and Frank Lampard from Chelsea all rested, Michael Owen missing after injuring his hamstring in midweek, Kieron Dyer absent through injury and a major doubt over the fitness of David Beckham, there were call-ups for Shaun Wright-Phillips, Celtic's former Newcastle midfielder Alan Thompson and Chelsea's Scott Parker.